Collapsible toilet with enhanced stability and strength

ABSTRACT

A collapsible toilet with enhanced strength and stability is provided. The toilet supports an entire weight of a user when in use. The collapsible toilet includes a plurality of panels coupled together to form a generally oval shaped member with an interior space, each panel of the plurality of panels pivotably mounted to an adjacent one of the plurality of panels to permit pivotal movement of each panel relative to the adjacent panel, and a lid detachably coupled to the plurality of panels and having a central opening aligned with the interior space of the panels, the lid having a pair of foldable halves pivotably mounted together. The entire weight of the user is dispersed throughout the plurality of panels when the user is situated on the lid.

RELATED APPLICATION

The application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 62/137,405 filed on Mar. 24, 2015, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to collapsible toilets.

Individuals traveling to outdoor locations do not always have access to restroom facilities. This is especially true for individuals engaging in outdoor tailgating parties at sporting events and recreational activities such as camping, hiking, hunting, or the like, in the wilderness. In certain outdoor locations, portable toilets known as porta-potties are assembled on the ground for individuals. However, these toilets are too bulky, expensive, and/or impractical for use in the wilderness or other remote areas.

Several collapsible toilets exist as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,209,793 and 7,540,041, which permit a user to transport the toilet to a desired location, assemble the toilet to a usable configuration, and fold the toilet to a storage position. However, these toilets are limited in strength and stability because they are made from corrugated cardboard without any structural supporting members. As a result, these toilets are flimsy and lack the requisite strength to effectively support the entire weight of a user for extended periods of time.

As such, there is a need in the industry for a collapsible toilet with enhanced stability and strength, which adequately supports the user's entire weight and overcomes the limitations of the prior art.

SUMMARY

A collapsible toilet with enhanced strength and stability is provided. The toilet is configured to support an entire weight of a user when in use. The collapsible toilet comprises a plurality of panels coupled together to form a generally oval shaped member with an interior space, each panel of the plurality of panels pivotably mounted to an adjacent one of the plurality of panels to permit pivotal movement of each panel relative to the adjacent panel, and a lid detachably coupled to the plurality of panels and comprising a central opening aligned with the interior space of the panels, the lid comprising a pair of foldable halves pivotably mounted together, wherein the entire weight of the user is dispersed throughout the plurality of panels when the user is situated on the lid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention will be made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein the figures disclose one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a top perspective view of certain embodiments of the collapsible toilet depicting an assembled configuration;

FIG. 2 depicts a bottom perspective view of certain embodiments of the collapsible toilet depicting the assembled configuration;

FIG. 3 depicts a section view of certain embodiments of the collapsible toilet taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of certain embodiments of the collapsible toilet;

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the collapsible toilet depicting a seat assembly in a compact configuration;

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the collapsible toilet depicting a seat assembly in a compact configuration;

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the collapsible toilet depicting a compact configuration;

FIG. 8 depicts an exploded view of certain embodiments of the collapsible toilet; and

FIG. 9 depicts an exploded view of certain embodiments of the collapsible toilet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

As depicted in FIGS. 1-4, the collapsible toilet is configured to be assembled to provide a user (not shown) with a portable and foldable toilet with enhanced strength and stability. In one embodiment, the collapsible toilet weighs less than 4 lbs and is configured to support up to 300 lbs of weight. The collapsible toilet generally comprises a base member comprising a plurality of panels 10 connected together and a lid comprising seat halves 16.

The base member is configured to be disposed on the ground (not shown) and preferably comprises twelve panels 10 that are pivotably mounted to each other. In one embodiment, panels 10 are made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”) plastic. However, alternative materials known in the field can be used instead. As depicted in FIG. 8, each panel 10 comprises accessory notch 14 and hinge knuckles 12 on side edges of the panel. In a preferred embodiment, each side edge of panel 10 comprises three hinge knuckles 12. However, alternative number of hinge knuckles 12 can be used instead.

Adjacent panels 10 are connected together by aligning hinge knuckles 12 of both panels together. U-rod 26 is disposed through the aligned hinge knuckles 12 of adjacent panels 12. U-rod 26 may he made from any material such as stainless steel, aluminum, other metals, or the like. Bracket 30 is coupled to the end of U-rod 26 once positioned near the bottom of panels 10. A pair of hinge anchors 28 is coupled to U-rod 26 in between hinge knuckles 12. Hinge anchors 28 are preferably made from ABS plastic, however alternative materials may be used instead.

U-rods 26, hinge anchors 28 and brackets 30 are used to connect edges of adjacent panels 10 for all panels 10 of the base member. These fastening components permit pivotal movement of each panel 10 relative to an adjacent panel 10. As a result, the base member can be adjusted to form a generally oval shape with an interior space as shown in FIGS. 1-2. The bottom edge of each panel comprises a curved surface. This allows less surface area of each panel 10 to contact the ground, therefore reducing friction and permitting a user to pivotably adjust panels 10 with greater ease when placed on the ground.

The lid is preferably made from ABS plastic and comprises seat halves 16 pivotably mounted together. Each seat half 16 comprises a generally C-shaped member. As depicted in FIG. 9, each pair of ends of seat halves 16 are coupled together via seat hinge knuckles 18, binding post 22 and binding screw 24. In one embodiment, binding post 22 and binding screw 24 are made from nylon. However, alternative materials known in the field may be used instead. These fastening components permit pivotal movement of each seat half 16 relative to the other seat half 16. As depicted in FIG. 3, each seat half 16 comprises seat hook 20, which is configured to detachably couple with a corresponding opening in any one of panels 10. To remove seat halves 16 from panels 10, a user manually applies a force to each panel 10 proximate seat hook 20 to disengage the members.

In operation, the collapsible toilet is assembled by adjusting panels 10 to a generally oval-shaped member and securing seat halves 16 to the top of panels 10 as shown in FIG. 1. In this configuration, the opening between seat halves 16 is aligned with the interior space of panels 10. A plastic bag (not shown) is disposed within the interior space and draped over edges of seat halves 16. The user (not shown) sits on seat halves 16 as needed and the plastic bag collects the user's waste. Once completed, the bag can be easily removed from the collapsible toilet and disposed properly. As depicted in FIGS. 5-7, seat halves 16 and panels 10 can be collapsed into a storage configuration. In one embodiment, the collapsed panels 10 and seat halves 16 can be stacked together to fit within a 2.5″×7″×14″ space.

In one embodiment, a plurality of accessories not shown) can be attached to any accessory notches 14 on panels 10. In one embodiment, the accessory may be a toilet paper holder. In another embodiment, the accessory may be a battery back holder that can power an external device such as a seat warmer (not shown) connected to seat halves 16.

It shall be appreciated that the collapsible toilet has enhanced strength and stability over prior art portable toilets. U-rods 26 connecting panels 10 together provide structural support to the toilet. Hinge anchors 28 provide additional strength to the toilet and prevent panels 10 from bending with the user is seated on the toilet. This structural support permits the collapsible toilet to support a user weight of up to 300 lbs.

It shall be appreciated that the components of the collapsible toilet described in several embodiments herein may comprise any alternative known materials in the field and be of any color, size and/or dimensions. It shall be appreciated that the components of the collapsible toilet described herein may be manufactured and assembled using any known techniques in the field.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible toilet with enhanced strength and stability, the toilet configured to support an entire weight of a user when in use, the collapsible toilet comprising: a plurality of panels coupled together to form a generally oval shaped member with an interior space, each panel of the plurality of panels pivotably mounted to an adjacent one of the plurality of panels to permit pivotal movement of each panel relative to the adjacent panel; and a lid detachably coupled to the plurality of panels and comprising a central opening aligned with the interior space of the panels, the lid comprising a pair of foldable halves pivotably mounted together, wherein the entire weight of the user is dispersed throughout the plurality of panels when the user is situated on the lid.
 2. The collapsible toilet of claim 1, wherein each half of the lid comprises a generally C-shaped member.
 3. The collapsible toilet of claim 2, wherein each half of the lid comprises a hook configured to detachably couple with any one of the plurality of panels.
 4. The collapsible toilet of claim 3, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels comprises a top edge, a bottom edge opposite the top edge, and a pair of side edges connecting the top and bottom edges, wherein each side edge of the panel comprises a plurality of hinge knuckles.
 5. The collapsible toilet of claim 4, wherein the plurality of hinge knuckles of each panel are aligned with hinge knuckles of one side edge of the adjacent panel and a U-shaped rod is disposed through the hinge knuckles of both the panel and the hinge knuckles of the adjacent panel.
 6. The collapsible toilet of claim 5, further comprising at least one anchor member coupled to the U-shaped rod and configured to prevent the panel and adjacent panel from bending.
 7. The collapsible toilet of claim 6, further comprising a bracket coupled to the end of the U-shaped rod.
 8. The collapsible toilet of claim 7, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels comprises a notch configured to receive an accessory.
 9. The collapsible toilet of claim 8, wherein the accessory is a toilet paper holder.
 10. The collapsible toilet of claim 8, wherein the accessory is a battery pack configured for use with a seat warmer operably connected to the lid. 